Book reviews – August/September 2022 | Myrtle Beach, SC

poetic poetry
By Brittany Benko
Independently published, $6.71
Release date: November 1, 2020

Poetic Poetry is a collection of poems from the creative mind of author Brittany Benko. These poems center on her life and experiences, covering the wager of love, loss, motherhood, and beach life. Benko’s work includes poems with a strict rhyme scheme, incorporating elements of free verse poetry and formal poetry to create simple images of beach life, dreams, and more. The poems are organized alphabetically, simplifying the reading process for readers. Benko holds nothing back, sharing her thoughts on everything from finding love, raising her kids, being married to a law enforcement officer, and experiencing all that life has to offer. at the beach has to offer. The writing uses rhyming verses, giving each piece a bouncy, dreamlike feel. With a focus on creating simple, relatable imagery, this book is a great way for those who don’t typically like the pomp and circumstance of poetry to get their feet wet in the genre. If you’re looking for your next read on the beach, this is the perfect book to pick up!

This is what you were made for: finding the courage and intuition to raise an autistic child
By Rebecca Jeffreys
Empowerment and Multimedia Edition, $40.99
Release date: April 28, 2022

You Were Made for This is a great addition to any parenting book collection, especially for mothers of children with autism. Jeffreys describes her experiences with her son, JJ, and her husband as they go through the trials and tribulations of raising a child with undiagnosed autism. Throughout the novel, Jeffreys combines his real, unfiltered experiences with reminders of giving oneself grace in the face of adversity. Although the book is primarily centered around her experience as the mother of an autistic child, the book also contains nuggets of wisdom for all types of parents. In multiple schools, teachers who were helpful and teachers who weren’t, and red tape that made things harder than necessary, Jeffreys weaves a story that shows us the rawest and most inspiring motherhood. Her lived experiences breathe on the page and give us hope that eventually the systems that make life more difficult for those who perceive the world in a different way will be repaired.